The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said it will not pursue a prosecution of two doctors who agreed to arrange illegal abortions on the basis of the sex of the baby.
Investigation
The two doctors were filmed agreeing to organise abortions for women who did not want a female baby during an undercover investigation by the Daily Telegraph newspaper.
But, after an 18 month investigation, the CPS has stated that even though it found enough evidence for “a realistic prospect of conviction,” prosecuting the doctors would not be in the “public interest.”
Concern
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt expressed his concerns over the decision, and has called for “urgent clarification” from the Attorney General.
He said: “We are clear that gender selection abortion is against the law and completely unacceptable.
“This is a concerning development and I have written to the Attorney General to ask for urgent clarification on the grounds for this decision.”
Dr Peter Saunders, chief executive of the Christian Medical Fellowship said: “We seem to have a situation where, at the whim of the CPS, procedures that are clearly laid out in the Abortion Act can be completely disregarded by doctors and the NHS.
“That seems to put doctors above the law and raises questions about the CPS upholding the will of Parliament.
Extraordinary
“We seem to have doctors being allowed to reinterpret the law with apparent impunity — it is quite extraordinary.”
Sex selection abortions are a long standing problem in parts of India and China where boys are considered more desirable than girls for cultural or economical reasons.
But recent analysis of UK birth records by the Government suggested that sex selection abortions appear to be happening in Britain.
Andrea Minichiello Williams, CEO of Christian Legal Centre (CLC), commented: “By failing to follow through on its investigation the CPS is abdicating from its responsibility to make sure the law is kept.
“This is contrary to the law. Parliament makes the law and the CPS should enforce it.
Reprehensible
“Its actions communicate that sex selection abortions are practically legal – something the vast majority of Britons would find reprehensible.
“We believe in the rule of law and that girls should not be terminated because boys are wanted.
“We shall be seeking counsel’s opinion and are considering a judicial review of this decision.”
Listen to Dr Peter Saunders discuss the case on BBC Radio 5Live >
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